title: A novel polymer infiltrated ceramic dental material.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the mechanical behavior of a prototype porous ceramic interpenetrating polymer-ceramic material containing 15-20% polymer.
  
  
  METHODS
  After sample preparation, elastic modulus, hardness, stress-strain relationship and indentation creep response were measured by a nanoindentation system. Fracture toughness was measured by the single-edge-notched beam (SENB) method. SEM was employed to observe the fractured surface and analyze the fracture mechanisms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The polymer infiltrated ceramic material has elastic modulus, hardness, and fracture toughness values of 30.14GPa, 2.59GPa, and 1.72 MPam(1/2), respectively. The material illustrates a significant indentation size effect for elastic modulus and hardness, and has similar indentation creep behavior to human enamel. Manufacturing procedures such as the density of pre-infiltrated porous ceramic and processing pressure influence the final properties of the material.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This polymer infiltrated ceramic material is anticipated to become a new member of the dental CAD/CAM family.
authors.affiliation: Sir John Walsh Research Institute, School of Dentistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. lihong.he@otago.ac.nz
authors.forename: Li-Hong
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Swain
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D003776:Dental Porcelain / Q000737:chemistry*; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis / Q000379:methods; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D006244:Hardness; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D016062:Porosity; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D003188:Composite Resins; D003764:Dental Materials; D011108:Polymers; D003776:Dental Porcelain